Hitting the Ground Running
Brothers Give Community a New Hardware Store
Brothers Give Community a New Hardware Store
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| Carolina Wood Products opens a new hardware store with House Hasson Wholesale Hardware |
Ron and Randy Horne really hadn’t planned on opening a hardware store, but they just couldn’t say no to a community in need.
The two brothers’ main business is Carolina Wood Products, which was founded by their father in 1969 and sells wooden pallets and crates all across the South. They also own a number of rental properties.
“The people in the community said there was nowhere to go to buy hardware and that we’re the only ones who can do it,” Ron recalls. “It was an issue for us too, because we couldn’t find the products we needed to take care of our rental properties.”
As luck would have it, House Hasson Wholesale Hardware territory manager Ralph Price and regional manager Jay Aldridge just happened to stop by the Carolina Wood Products plant and mentioned the only hardware store in town was closing. That got the ball rolling and it was a whirlwind of activity from there, starting with an RPM study to analyze the market.
They broke ground on the 8,000-square-foot store with detached lumberyard in January and opened up this past April. They’re still trying to catch their breath from all the activity.
“House Hasson Wholesale Hardware advised us every step of the way. They provided detailed information to give to our banker, helped us find fixtures, helped with the store set-up and they gave us very good terms,” Ron says. “More than anything, they gave us a good idea of what to expect throughout the whole process.”
The store has quickly gained a following in the community, and the Horne brothers keep discovering new products they need to add to the merchandise mix. “We offer camping gear, toys, sporting goods—a wide variety to get people looking around,” Ron says.
A grand opening was held in the spring, using the House Hasson Wholesale Hardware circular to promote the event. House Hasson Wholesale Hardware also helped them host a Customer Appreciation Day in the fall. “We plan to consult with them soon on setting up a website so we can have Internet sales,” says Ron.
Launching a new store in a short period of time is not without its challenges, and they ran into a few speed bumps trying to get their POS system set up with 30,000 SKUs. “We worked through it and the folks at J3 offered us good support and helped us with our grand opening,” Ron says. “The nice thing about the J3 POS system is we don’t have to be here and we can still see what’s being sold.”
Adds Randy, “Our POS system tells us what’s moving so we don’t run out of mulches and plants. We pay close attention to our inventory levels.”
The brothers may be new to retailing, but they understand the important principles that drive a successful retail operation. “All our customers get greeted and asked if they need help. We make sure our service stands out,” says Randy.
In addition, they plan to target pro painters with the Gray Seal line of paint once they figure out the right volume pricing discounts. They’ve already started catering to industrial/manufacturing companies in the area. “We tell them we’re right here and can be their stock room,” Ron says. “We’re already selling pallets to Quikrete down the road, so we might as well sell them other products too.”
The two brothers’ main business is Carolina Wood Products, which was founded by their father in 1969 and sells wooden pallets and crates all across the South. They also own a number of rental properties.
“The people in the community said there was nowhere to go to buy hardware and that we’re the only ones who can do it,” Ron recalls. “It was an issue for us too, because we couldn’t find the products we needed to take care of our rental properties.”
As luck would have it, House Hasson Wholesale Hardware territory manager Ralph Price and regional manager Jay Aldridge just happened to stop by the Carolina Wood Products plant and mentioned the only hardware store in town was closing. That got the ball rolling and it was a whirlwind of activity from there, starting with an RPM study to analyze the market.
They broke ground on the 8,000-square-foot store with detached lumberyard in January and opened up this past April. They’re still trying to catch their breath from all the activity.
“House Hasson Wholesale Hardware advised us every step of the way. They provided detailed information to give to our banker, helped us find fixtures, helped with the store set-up and they gave us very good terms,” Ron says. “More than anything, they gave us a good idea of what to expect throughout the whole process.”
The store has quickly gained a following in the community, and the Horne brothers keep discovering new products they need to add to the merchandise mix. “We offer camping gear, toys, sporting goods—a wide variety to get people looking around,” Ron says.
Randy adds that offering green goods in the spring was well-received. “We want to keep catering to the ladies, because they buy plants, paint, flags and other stuff,” he says, adding that their wives offer valuable insights into what products they should be carrying to attract female shoppers.
Since they’re new to retailing, they have been forced to lean heavily on House Hasson Wholesale Hardware’s expertise. “Ralph is here every Monday morning to look after us,” Ron says. “He helps us with ordering and if we have damaged products he makes sure it’s taken care of. You couldn’t ask for more.”A grand opening was held in the spring, using the House Hasson Wholesale Hardware circular to promote the event. House Hasson Wholesale Hardware also helped them host a Customer Appreciation Day in the fall. “We plan to consult with them soon on setting up a website so we can have Internet sales,” says Ron.
Launching a new store in a short period of time is not without its challenges, and they ran into a few speed bumps trying to get their POS system set up with 30,000 SKUs. “We worked through it and the folks at J3 offered us good support and helped us with our grand opening,” Ron says. “The nice thing about the J3 POS system is we don’t have to be here and we can still see what’s being sold.”
Adds Randy, “Our POS system tells us what’s moving so we don’t run out of mulches and plants. We pay close attention to our inventory levels.”
The brothers may be new to retailing, but they understand the important principles that drive a successful retail operation. “All our customers get greeted and asked if they need help. We make sure our service stands out,” says Randy.
They have attended all the markets since they first started talking with House Hasson Wholesale Hardware about a new store, and they find them very beneficial. “You see what a well-run organization House Hasson Wholesale Hardware is and what a large selection of products they have to offer,” Ron says. “Our sales rep helps us find products and offers advice on how much to buy. It’s a learning process.”
The nearest big box is 22 miles away, but the RPM study helped them understand the level of competition they face and how to combat that. “We accepted their guidance. We had to listen to them because we didn’t know what to do otherwise,” Ron admits. Adds Randy, “Ralph and Jay both live close by—they’re local. They have no problem taking care of any request we have.”
Nine months into their first year of operation, Ron and Randy both say the business has exceeded their expectations, especially when the economy is taken into account. “Plumbers and electricians come in here. If the economy starts looking better we plan to expand the lumberyard and add a lot more roofing products, block and other building materials,’ Ron says. In addition, they plan to target pro painters with the Gray Seal line of paint once they figure out the right volume pricing discounts. They’ve already started catering to industrial/manufacturing companies in the area. “We tell them we’re right here and can be their stock room,” Ron says. “We’re already selling pallets to Quikrete down the road, so we might as well sell them other products too.”
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